Folding boat



, May 14, 1935., H; F. WILSON FOLDING BOAT Filed Aug;

28, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR 22201;? 2771 125 257 A TTORNEY H. F. WILSON FOLDING BOAT May 14, 1935.

Filed Aug. 28, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 my 0 v. m m \& $1M n /A%A W vA F A? a a 5 5 .v .fi 7 .0 3 a W 5 V S Patented May 14, 1935 UNITED sTATEs PATENT OFFICE romance BOAT was r. wussn, Los Angeles, Calif. mum... August '28. 1933, Serial No. 687,024

4 Claims.

. inpart.

In the use of folding boats it is desirable that the boat shall be light in weight, may be so designed as to be compactly folded, and will when unfolded provide a rigid boat structure. It is the principal object of the present invention to provide a folding boat which is formed of a few parts adapted to be readily moved to a. collapsed position or to an unfolded position, at which time the parts may be rapidly locked together in a manner to form a rigid boat structure and in a manner to insure that the parts thereof will be maintained in their assembled relation without danger of accidental collapse ofthe structure.

The present invention contemplates the provision of a boat formed of longitudinally extending bottom panels and side panels and which panels are articulately connected along their contiguous edges whereby the parts may be readily unfolded to form a boat structure, the various members being provided with locking elements adapted to be instantly placed in lock ing position and to firmly hold the boat as a rigid structure.

The invention is illustrated by way of exampie in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a. view in plan showing a square stern type of boat involving the principles of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a view in plan showing a pointed stern type of boat embodying the present invention.

Fig. 3 isa view in' transverse section through the boat as seen on the line 33 of Fig. l and showing the transverse locking .bearn.

Fig. 3a is a fragmentary view of one end of the transverse locking beam.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view in elevation as viewed in the direction of the arrow 4-4 in Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a view in transverse vertical section through the boat as seen on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1.'

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view in elevation showing the row look as viewed in the direction of the arrow 6 -6 of Fig. 1, and further indicates the self-feathering action of the oar as carried by the row lock.

Fig. 7 is a view in transverse vertical section through the row lock as seen on the line 1-1 of Fig. 6.

Referring more particularly to. the drawings, l0 and II indicate complementary bottom panels of a squarestern type boat. These panels are formed with a straight edge on adjacent sides providing a joint extending longitudinally and centrally of the boat as indicated at I 2. This joint is covered throughout its length by a flexible hinge strip I3 the edges of which are held against the under faces of the bottom panels Ill and I I by longitudinally extending cleats I4 and I5. The hinge strip I3 is made of waterproof material and is flexible so that the bottom-panels l0 and II may swing upwardly at the joint l2 and downwardly and inwardly at their outer edges when the boat is to be folded. The outer edges of the panels ill and ll of the type of boat shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings gradually taper inwardly toward the mower the boat and when the boat is in its unfolded position the bottom panels Ill and II curve upwardly toward the prow of the boat. Disposed at opposite sides of the bottom structure of the boat are side panels l6 and I1. These panels are substantially identical in shape with the bottom panels in that the upper edges of the side panels are straight and the lower edges of theside panels taper toward the prow of the.

boat to conform exactly to the taper of the outer edges of the bottom panels In and II. The contiguous edges of panels In and I6 and H and I! are articulately connected ,by' flexible hinge strips l8 held in position by cleats i9 and 20. The hinge strips 13 and I8 extend the full length of the boat and. at all times hold the contiguous edges of the adjacent panels close together and prevent. leakage of water between these edges. the hinge along a longitudinal center joint l2 extends forwardly of the prow of the boat as indicated by dotted lines at 20 in Fig. 1, and is then folded over the prow of the boat to form a reinforcing member 22 which is tacked down along the opposite faces of the side wall. The stem of the boat is formed with a removable end panel 23 which is slidable vertically between guide rails 24 and 25. Secured entirely across the stern of -the boat in the rear of the end panel 23 is a fabric panel 26 which is made of waterproof material and is fastened to the side and bottom panels in a manner to prevent water from leaking into the boat. This fabric panel end carried by engaging members 28 on the end The hinge strip l3 which forms,

panel 23 and which will hold the fabric panel so that water will not be liable to leak over the top of the fabric panel and between it and the end panel. A strap 23 is provided to extend transversely of the back panels and preferably passes through loops 33 secured on the,

ing alongthe outer face of the side and bottom panels. It is evident that while the hinge strips -will form an articulate connection between the panels that due to their flexible character they will not rigidly hold the parts in relation to each other. Metal hinges 32 are provided for that purpose and are fastened to the side and bottom panels at appropriate points throughout the length of the boat. Extending transversely of the bottom panels and overlapping the longitudinal joint I! is a pair of brace members 33 and 34. These members lie flat upon the bottom of the boat and are rigidly secured theretoby rivets 35 or other fastening means. -Each of the members overhangs the longitudinal center joint l2 of the boat although they are cut away to provide complementary tongues 35 and 31 so that lateral movement between the two members may be resisted as well as a downward bending movement of either of the bottom panels II or I! independently of the other in the event that weight is unevenly distributed on thefloor of the boat. In practice it has been found preferable to dispose the bracemembers 33' and 34 on, a transverse plane agreeing with the plane of a pair of hinges 32. The boat is braced in its open position by one or more transverse beams 38. These members are preferably U- shaped, the outer contour of which conforms to the sectional contour of the inside of the boat and firmly fits against the bottom of the boat and upwardly against the inner faces of the side panels l6 and II. The upper edges of the side panels l6 and H are reinforced along their outer faces with a marginal bead 39 and a marginal bead 40 along the inner faces of these edges. At the point where the transverse beam 33 is positioned within the boat a lock plate 4! is disposed directly beneath the bead 40 of the side panels. This member has a relatively annular overhanging portion 42 and a large body member 43 upon which a lock bolt structure 44 is mounted. The overhanging portion 42 extends over a vertical cleat 45, one end of which is fastened to each side panel It and I1. The member 45 provides a guide for one side of the beam 38, while the other side abuts against the edge 46 of the body member 43 of the plate 4|. A metal stirrup 41 is secured around the upper extensions of the members 33 at the point where the brace projects between the face 46 of the member 4| and the strip 45. This prevents wear between the parts and insures that the parts will always have a. tight fit. The upper ends of notched as indicated at 48 to fit over and abut against the face of the extensions 42. This also provides a shoulder 49 which will seat beneath the extension and will thus prevent the brace ,from moving out of its position between the side panels. A metal wear plate 50 is secured upon the portion of the extension 42 against which the notch of the brace abuts. The bolt the member 38 are 44 is designed to project intoan opening ll of the brace 33 to positively lock the members in position. It is understood that as many transverse beams 33 as are desired may be used in a boat, this being determined by the length of the boat and the rigidity required.

The construction of the cross beams 33 and the brace members 33 and 34 will be the same irrespective of whether or not the boat is of the square stem or pointed stern type. In the pointed stern boat the opposite ends of the bottom and side panels taper and the hinge strip I3 is carried beyond the pointed ends to form. the reinforcing member 22, one of which will occur at each end of the boat. The panels of these boats are preferably made of light flexible wood having considerable strength and beposition and which would require that they a should be flexed to assume parallel planes when the boat is folded. This makes it necessary to hold the boat in its folded position and insures that when the holding means are released that the panels of the boat will instantly flex to their unfolded position and cause the boat to conform I to its unfolded design automatically.

In either form of the invention it is'desirable' to provide like oars and car locks. As shown in Figs. 6 and 7 oar locks 52 are disclosed as having vertical shanks 53 terminating at their. upper ends in hooks 54. These locks are spaced a distance from each convenient for right or left hand rowing. The lower ends of the shanks 53 are formed with an inturned portion 55 which projects into a seat 56 formed in a plate 51. cured to the inner face of the side panels of the boat and is preferably disposed just beneath the marginal beads 40 of these panels. The plates 51 also carry a pair of hooks 58 which fasten around theshanks 53 of the row looks. The oars are provided with an eye 59 which is fastened into the body of the car and at-right other so that they will be.

The plate 51 is seangles to the longitudinal axis thereof. The

hooks 54 of the row locks fit into the eye 59 and permit the car to hang as shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings. It will be noted that due to the fact that the length of the eye is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the oar and that its center is at right angles to the plane of the car blade, a backward sweep of the oars will cause the blades to "feather at the ends of their stroke.

In operation of either form of the boat, such as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the boat panels are normally folded so that they will form in section a W-shape with the bottom panels I. and II folded upwardly along their joint I2 and the side panels l5 and I1 collapsing against the bottom panels to assume positions parallel thereto. If the panels normally are shaped to lie in a flat plane the boat will remain in its unfolded condition without any binding or fastening means. If on the other hand, the panels have been steamed and permanently set to normally assume their flexed position, as'would be the case when the boat is unfolded, then it is necessary to fasten a strap around the folded boat or secure the panels in their folded position by some other means since the panels must be flexed to assume a folded position. In either event the panels in assuming an unfolded position will move so that'the bottom panels ill and Ii are in a common plane and so that the side panels are parallel to each other and standing substantially at right angles to the plane of the bottom panels. After the boat has been thus unfolded the braces 3% may be sprung into position between the side panels it and H and forced downwardly so that their shoulders ts assume an interlocked position beneath the extensions 112 of the locking plates ti. The'bolts M may'then be forced into locking position with relation to the braces so that the boat will be in its assembled position. This will apply to either type of boat here shown. In unfolding the square stern boat it is necessary to place the end panel 23 in position between the side panels it and ill and to thereafter fasten the side and back panels in a desired relation to each other by the strap or other fastening means 29. It will thus be seen that the structure here shown provides a boat of light construction which may readily assume a folded or unfolded position and which will in its unfolded and operative position provide a rigid strength and noncollapsing boat structure.

It will be evident that the seat shown might be reversed to assume a position on the opposite side of the cross member 3% from that shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings. The reach to the oars will be diiferent. In that event the appropriate hook 52 may be used with the oars. Attention is also directed to Fig. 3 of the drawings where it will be seen that the bottom panels iii and ii are disposed at an angle to the horizontal. This insures that there will be a V bottom to the boat particularly toward the stern of the-square stern boat. The effect of a keel will thus be given to aid in handling while rowing.

While I have shown the preferred form of my invention as now known to me it will be understood that various changes may be made in combination, construction, and arrangement of parts bythose skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed. Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:-

1. A folding boat structure comprising a pair of flexible bottom panels lying in the same plane and substantially abutting against each other along the longitudinal center line of the boat, a

flexible waterproof hinge strip disposed on the under face of said panels and being secured to overlap the joint of the contiguous edges, a pair of side panels disposed at opposite sides of the bottom panels and being of a contour identical therewith whereby the side and bottom panels will flex to form a boat, waterproof hinge strips extending longitudinally ofthe joint formed by the outer edges of the bottom panels and the lower edges of the side panels, cross brace means adapted to hold the side panels and the bottom panels in their unfolded positions at a point intermediate their ends, means interlocking the brace with the side panels, an end panel adapted to be positioned between the side panels at the stern of the boat, and a flexible waterproof back strip permanently secured to the side panels and the bottom panels at the stern of the boat and beyond the end panel.

2. A folding boat structure comprising a pair of flexible bottom panels lying in the same plane and substantially abutting against each other along the longitudinal center line of the boat, a flexible waterproof hinge strip disposed on the under face of said panels and being secured to overlap the joint of the contiguous edges, a pair of side panels disposed at opposite sides of the bottom panels and being of a contour identical therewith whereby the side and bottom panels will flex to form a boat, waterproof hinge strips extending longitudinally of the joint formed by the outer edges of the bottom panels and the lower edges of the side panels, cross brace means adapted to hold the side panels and the bottom panels in their unfolded positions at a point intermediate their ends, means interlocking the brace with the side panels, an end panel adapted to be positioned between the side panels at the stern of the boat, and a flexible waterproof back strip permanently secured to the side panels and the bottom panels at the stern of the boat and beyond the end panel, and a flexible waterproof member permanently binding the ends of the side and bottom panels together at the prow of the boat.

3. A folding boat structure comprising a. pair of flexible bottom panels lying in the same plane and substantially abutting against each other along the longitudinal center line of the boat, av flexible waterproof hinge strip disposed on the under face of said panels and being secured to overlap the joint of the contiguous edges, a pair of side panels disposed at opposite sides of the bottom panelsand'beingof a contour identical therewith whereby the side and bottom panels will flex to form a boat, waterproof hinge strips extending longitudinally of the joint formed by the outer edges of the bottom panels and the lower edges of the side panels, cross brace means adapted to hold the panels in their unfolded positions at a point intermediate their ends, means interlocking the brace with the side panels, an end panel adapted to be positioned between the side panels at the stern of the boat, and a flexible waterproof back strip permanently secured to the side panels and the bottom panels at the stern of the boat and beyond the end panel, a flexible waterproof mem ber permanently binding the ends of the side and bottom panels together at the prow of theboat, and means secured to the separate bottom panels and overlapping the longitudinal joint between the same to prevent independent flexure of the bottom panels and to prevent longitudinal shifting of the bottom panels with relation to each other.

e. A.boat having flexible bottom panels and side panels, guides on the inner faces of the side panels, a cross piece extending across the bottom panels and having its ends removably secured in the guides of the side panels, a rear panel positioned transversely of the boat between the side panels at the stern of the boat,

HAROLD F. WILSON. 

